AFOS product SRGPUB
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Product Timestamp: 2025-09-04 12:14 UTC

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UXUS97 KPUB 041214
SRGPUB

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0613 MDT Thursday, September 4, 2025

This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Thursday, September 4, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 66.4 F/19.1 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1185 ft/min (6.0 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 23035 ft MSL (14069 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 80.0 F/27.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1000 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast thin middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 20296 ft MSL (11330 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 09/05....... Excellent

Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available

Remarks... 

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:36:20 / 19:28:33 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 52 min 14 sec (772 min 14 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:02:27 MDT... 58.60 degrees

Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 09/04/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 15545 ft MSL (6579 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20402 ft MSL (11436 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 21798 ft MSL (12832 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -1.9
K index......................... +14.2

Height  Temperature  Wind  Wind Spd  Lapse Rate  ConvectionT  Thermal  Lift Rate
ft MSL  deg C deg F   Dir   kt  m/s  C/km F/kft  deg C deg F   Index    fpm  m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 50000  -64.4 -83.9   285   33   17   1.9   1.0      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -61.3 -78.3   280   38   19   2.9   1.6      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -56.1 -69.0   285   22   12   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -51.5 -60.7   290   23   12   7.7   4.2      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -46.9 -52.4   295   23   12   7.7   4.2      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -42.0 -43.6   295   23   12   8.2   4.5      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -37.1 -34.8   290   22   11   8.1   4.5      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -32.3 -26.1   285   19   10   7.8   4.3   32.1  89.7     4.2      M    M
 29000  -30.0 -22.0   280   17    9   7.8   4.3   31.4  88.5     3.8      M    M
 28000  -27.6 -17.7   275   15    8   7.8   4.3   30.8  87.5     3.3      M    M
 27000  -24.8 -12.6   275   13    7   7.6   4.1   29.7  85.4     2.5      M    M
 26000  -22.5  -8.5   275   11    6   7.6   4.1   28.9  84.0     1.8      M    M
 25000  -20.3  -4.5   275   10    5   7.6   4.2   28.2  82.8     1.3      M    M
 24000  -18.0  -0.4   280    9    5   7.6   4.2   27.4  81.3     0.6      M    M
 23000  -15.7   3.7   290    8    4   7.6   4.2   26.6  80.0    -0.0   1377  7.0
 22000  -13.4   7.9   300    8    4   6.9   3.8   26.0  78.8    -0.6   1279  6.5
 21000  -11.8  10.8   300   10    5   5.4   3.0   24.5  76.1    -2.0   1201  6.1
 20000  -10.3  13.5   300   13    7   5.6   3.1   23.1  73.5    -3.4   1125  5.7
 19500   -9.5  14.9   295   14    7   5.6   3.0   22.4  72.3    -4.1   1087  5.5
 19000   -8.6  16.5   295   15    8   6.8   3.7   21.8  71.3    -4.7   1046  5.3
 18500   -7.7  18.1   300   16    8   6.8   3.7   21.3  70.3    -5.2   1003  5.1
 18000   -6.7  19.9   300   16    8   7.6   4.2   20.8  69.5    -5.7    959  4.9
 17500   -5.4  22.3   305   17    9   8.8   4.8   20.6  69.1    -5.9    906  4.6
 17000   -4.1  24.6   310   18    9   8.8   4.8   20.5  68.9    -6.2    853  4.3
 16500   -2.8  27.0   310   18    9   9.1   5.0   20.3  68.6    -6.3    799  4.1
 16000   -1.5  29.3   315   18    9   9.1   5.0   20.2  68.4    -6.5    744  3.8
 15500   -0.1  31.8   320   18    9   9.4   5.2   20.2  68.3    -6.6    689  3.5
 15000    1.3  34.3   320   18   10   9.5   5.2   20.1  68.2    -6.7    631  3.2
 14500    2.7  36.9   325   19   10   8.4   4.6   20.1  68.2    -6.7    574  2.9
 14000    4.0  39.2   325   19   10   9.7   5.3   19.9  67.8    -6.9    520  2.6
 13500    6.1  43.0   330   19   10   8.6   4.7   19.8  67.7    -7.1    436  2.2
 13000    7.4  45.3   330   19   10   9.8   5.4   19.7  67.4    -7.2    380  1.9
 12500    8.9  48.0   330   19   10   9.3   5.1   19.7  67.4    -7.3    323  1.6
 12000   10.2  50.4   325   19   10   9.5   5.2   19.6  67.2    -7.5    268  1.4
 11750   10.9  51.6   325   19   10  10.6   5.8   19.6  67.3    -7.5    239  1.2
 11500   11.7  53.1   325   19   10   9.2   5.0   19.6  67.3    -7.5    209  1.1
 11250   12.3  54.1   325   18    9   7.6   4.2   19.5  67.1    -7.6    183  0.9
 11000   12.8  55.0   325   18    9   7.1   3.9   19.3  66.8    -7.8    160  0.8
 10750   13.4  56.1   325   18    9   9.2   5.1   19.2  66.5    -8.0    135  0.7
 10500   14.0  57.2   320   18    9   5.9   3.2   19.1  66.4    -8.1    109  0.6
 10250   14.1  57.4   320   17    9  -0.8  -0.5   18.5  65.3    -8.8     98  0.5
 10000   14.0  57.2   315   16    8  -3.1  -1.7   17.6  63.7    -9.7     96  0.5
  9750   13.8  56.8   305   15    8   2.2   1.2   16.7  62.1   -10.6     93  0.5
  9500   13.9  57.0   300   14    7  -8.2  -4.5   16.1  61.0   -11.3     84  0.4
  9250   11.9  53.4   290   10    5 -44.7 -24.5   13.4  56.1   -14.0    137  0.7
  9000    8.9  48.0   255    6    3  -8.9  -4.9    9.7  49.5   -17.8    220  1.1
  8750      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  8500      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  8250      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  8000      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M

 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 

           09/04/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       09/04/2025 at 1200 MDT        
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +0.7        | CAPE...   +72.5    LI...       -0.9
CINH...     0.0    K Index...  +8.8        | CINH...    -0.0    K Index... +16.6
                                           |
Height Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate | Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft | deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 50000 -65.5 -85.9  285  31 16   2.1   1.1 | -65.5 -85.9  275  34 18   1.3   0.7
 45000 -61.8 -79.2  275  36 19   3.5   1.9 | -62.4 -80.3  265  40 21   4.1   2.2
 40000 -56.1 -69.0  280  25 13   7.5   4.1 | -56.0 -68.8  265  31 16   7.1   3.9
 38000 -51.8 -61.2  280  23 12   7.3   4.0 | -51.8 -61.2  270  30 15   6.9   3.8
 36000 -47.4 -53.3  275  22 11   7.3   4.0 | -47.7 -53.9  275  28 15   6.9   3.8
 34000 -42.3 -44.1  275  22 11   8.6   4.7 | -42.6 -44.7  275  28 15   8.8   4.8
 32000 -36.5 -33.7  275  22 11   8.6   4.7 | -36.7 -34.1  280  29 15   8.8   4.8
 30000 -31.6 -24.9  275  21 11   8.0   4.4 | -32.0 -25.6  275  25 13   7.7   4.2
 29000 -29.2 -20.6  275  20 10   8.0   4.4 | -29.7 -21.5  275  22 12   7.7   4.2
 28000 -26.9 -16.4  275  20 10   7.5   4.1 | -27.4 -17.3  275  20 10   7.4   4.0
 27000 -24.6 -12.3  275  18  9   7.3   4.0 | -25.2 -13.4  275  19 10   7.2   3.9
 26000 -22.4  -8.3  270  17  9   7.3   4.0 | -23.0  -9.4  275  17  9   7.2   4.0
 25000 -20.2  -4.4  270  15  8   7.3   4.0 | -20.9  -5.6  275  16  8   7.2   4.0
 24000 -18.0  -0.4  270  13  7   7.4   4.1 | -18.8  -1.8  275  14  7   6.9   3.8
 23000 -15.8   3.6  270  12  6   7.4   4.1 | -16.7   1.9  275  13  7   6.9   3.8
 22000 -13.5   7.7  275  10  5   7.1   3.9 | -14.7   5.5  275  11  6   6.8   3.7
 21000 -11.8  10.8  280  10  5   5.7   3.1 | -12.9   8.8  275  12  6   6.1   3.4
 20000 -10.2  13.6  285  11  6   5.8   3.2 | -11.1  12.0  275  13  7   6.2   3.4
 19500  -9.4  15.1  285  11  6   5.8   3.2 | -10.2  13.6  275  13  7   6.1   3.3
 19000  -8.5  16.7  290  12  6   6.8   3.7 |  -9.2  15.4  280  13  7   7.5   4.1
 18500  -7.5  18.5  295  12  6   6.8   3.7 |  -8.1  17.4  280  13  7   7.6   4.2
 18000  -6.5  20.3  295  13  7   7.2   3.9 |  -7.0  19.4  285  13  7   8.1   4.4
 17500  -5.3  22.5  300  13  7   7.9   4.3 |  -5.7  21.7  290  12  6   9.2   5.0
 17000  -4.2  24.4  305  14  7   7.8   4.3 |  -4.4  24.1  295  10  5   9.2   5.1
 16500  -3.0  26.6  310  14  7   8.6   4.7 |  -3.1  26.4  305   9  5   9.5   5.2
 16000  -1.7  28.9  315  14  7   8.6   4.7 |  -1.7  28.9  305   9  5   9.5   5.2
 15500   0.2  32.4  325  14  7   9.1   5.0 |   0.4  32.7  305   9  5   9.7   5.3
 15000   1.6  34.9  330  14  7   9.2   5.0 |   1.8  35.2  305   9  5   9.7   5.3
 14500   2.9  37.2  330  15  8   9.0   4.9 |   3.3  37.9  305   9  5   9.5   5.2
 14000   4.3  39.7  330  15  8   9.7   5.3 |   4.7  40.5  310   9  5   9.9   5.4
 13500   5.8  42.4  330  15  8   8.9   4.9 |   6.2  43.2  310   9  5   8.0   4.4
 13000   7.1  44.8  330  16  8   9.6   5.3 |   7.6  45.7  310   9  5  11.1   6.1
 12500   8.5  47.3  330  16  8   9.3   5.1 |   9.2  48.6  310   9  4   9.9   5.5
 12000   9.8  49.6  325  17  9   9.3   5.1 |  10.5  50.9  310   8  4   9.9   5.4
 11750  10.5  50.9  325  17  9   9.7   5.3 |  11.3  52.3  310   8  4  11.0   6.0
 11500  11.2  52.2  325  17  9   9.1   5.0 |  12.1  53.8  310   8  4  10.5   5.7
 11250  11.8  53.2  320  17  9   8.3   4.6 |  12.9  55.2  310   8  4  10.1   5.5
 11000  12.4  54.3  320  17  9   8.0   4.4 |  13.6  56.5  310   8  4  10.0   5.5
 10750  13.0  55.4  320  17  9   9.1   5.0 |  14.4  57.9  310   8  4  10.2   5.6
 10500  13.7  56.7  315  17  9   7.1   3.9 |  15.2  59.4  310   8  4  10.4   5.7
 10250  13.9  57.0  310  16  8   2.6   1.5 |  15.9  60.6  310   8  4  10.4   5.7
 10000  14.1  57.4  305  15  8   2.6   1.4 |  16.7  62.1  310   8  4  10.8   5.9
  9750  14.2  57.6  300  14  7   1.0   0.6 |  17.5  63.5  310   7  4   9.5   5.2
  9500  14.2  57.6  295  13  7   3.5   1.9 |  18.3  64.9  315   7  4  14.2   7.8
  9250  14.8  58.6  285  10  5  14.2   7.8 |  19.8  67.6  310   7  4  28.5  15.6
  9000  15.7  60.3  265   7  4   3.0   1.7 |  21.9  71.4  310   6  3  19.6  10.7
  8750     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8500     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8000     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M

           09/04/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       09/04/2025 at 1800 MDT        
                                           |
CAPE...  +131.9    LI...       -0.6        | CAPE...  +163.0    LI...       -1.1
CINH...    -9.6    K Index... +26.1        | CINH...   -48.2    K Index... +25.4
                                           |
Height Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate | Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft | deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 50000 -64.7 -84.5  275  38 19   1.1   0.6 | -63.7 -82.7  275  38 20   1.1   0.6
 45000 -62.0 -79.6  265  47 24   4.1   2.2 | -61.6 -78.9  265  48 25   2.3   1.3
 40000 -55.6 -68.1  260  41 21   6.8   3.7 | -57.6 -71.7  260  43 22   8.6   4.7
 38000 -51.6 -60.9  260  36 19   6.6   3.6 | -52.8 -63.0  260  36 19   8.0   4.4
 36000 -47.7 -53.9  265  32 16   6.6   3.6 | -48.0 -54.4  260  29 15   8.0   4.4
 34000 -42.5 -44.5  265  30 15   9.3   5.1 | -41.9 -43.4  265  25 13   9.3   5.1
 32000 -36.2 -33.2  265  29 15   9.3   5.1 | -36.3 -33.3  270  23 12   9.2   5.0
 30000 -31.7 -25.1  265  25 13   7.1   3.9 | -31.4 -24.5  270  19 10   8.0   4.4
 29000 -29.6 -21.3  270  23 12   7.1   3.9 | -29.0 -20.2  270  17  9   8.0   4.4
 28000 -27.5 -17.5  270  21 11   7.0   3.9 | -26.6 -15.9  270  15  8   7.6   4.2
 27000 -25.3 -13.5  270  19 10   7.0   3.8 | -24.6 -12.3  270  13  7   7.0   3.9
 26000 -23.2  -9.8  275  18  9   7.0   3.8 | -22.5  -8.5  275  11  5   7.0   3.9
 25000 -21.1  -6.0  275  16  8   7.1   3.9 | -20.4  -4.7  280   8  4   7.0   3.9
 24000 -19.3  -2.7  275  16  8   6.0   3.3 | -18.3  -0.9  285   7  4   7.2   4.0
 23000 -17.5   0.5  280  15  8   6.1   3.4 | -16.1   3.0  285   7  4   7.3   4.0
 22000 -15.7   3.7  280  14  7   6.5   3.6 | -14.0   6.8  290   6  3   7.4   4.0
 21000 -13.3   8.1  285  14  7   8.8   4.9 | -12.1  10.2  290   7  4   6.4   3.5
 20000 -10.8  12.6  285  13  7   8.9   4.9 | -10.2  13.6  285   8  4   6.4   3.5
 19500  -9.5  14.9  290  12  6   9.1   5.0 |  -9.3  15.3  280   8  4   6.4   3.5
 19000  -8.3  17.1  290  12  6   7.7   4.2 |  -8.4  16.9  280   8  4   6.6   3.6
 18500  -7.1  19.2  290  11  6   7.6   4.2 |  -7.4  18.7  280   9  5   6.6   3.6
 18000  -6.0  21.2  285  10  5   8.1   4.4 |  -6.5  20.3  280   9  5   6.6   3.6
 17500  -4.6  23.7  285   9  5   9.8   5.4 |  -5.0  23.0  280  11  5   7.0   3.8
 17000  -3.2  26.2  285   9  5   9.8   5.4 |  -3.9  25.0  280  11  6   7.1   3.9
 16500  -1.7  28.9  285   9  4   9.8   5.4 |  -2.8  27.0  280  12  6   8.1   4.4
 16000   0.5  32.9  285   8  4   9.8   5.4 |  -1.7  28.9  275  14  7   8.0   4.4
 15500   2.0  35.6  280   8  4  10.0   5.5 |  -0.5  31.1  275  15  7   8.1   4.4
 15000   3.5  38.3  280   7  4  10.4   5.7 |   0.7  33.3  275  16  8   8.5   4.7
 14500   4.8  40.6  280   7  4   8.1   4.4 |   1.7  35.1  270  16  8   6.6   3.6
 14000   6.2  43.2  280   7  4   9.5   5.2 |   3.0  37.4  270  17  9   8.5   4.6
 13500   7.7  45.9  280   7  3   9.1   5.0 |   4.2  39.6  270  17  9   8.3   4.5
 13000   9.1  48.4  280   7  3  10.6   5.8 |   5.6  42.1  270  18  9   9.7   5.3
 12500  10.7  51.3  280   6  3   9.9   5.4 |   7.0  44.6  270  18  9   9.4   5.1
 12000  12.0  53.6  280   6  3   9.5   5.2 |   8.2  46.8  270  19 10   7.9   4.4
 11750  12.8  55.0  280   6  3  10.9   6.0 |   8.8  47.8  270  19 10   8.7   4.8
 11500  13.6  56.5  280   6  3  10.4   5.7 |   9.4  48.9  270  19 10   8.5   4.7
 11250  14.3  57.7  280   6  3  10.0   5.5 |  10.0  50.0  265  18 10   7.9   4.3
 11000  15.1  59.2  280   6  3   9.6   5.3 |  10.6  51.1  265  19 10   7.5   4.1
 10750  15.8  60.4  280   5  3  10.3   5.6 |  11.1  52.0  265  19 10   7.1   3.9
 10500  16.6  61.9  280   5  3  10.6   5.8 |  11.6  52.9  265  19 10   6.7   3.6
 10250  17.4  63.3  280   5  3  10.2   5.6 |  12.1  53.8  265  18  9   7.8   4.3
 10000  18.1  64.6  280   5  3  10.1   5.6 |  12.7  54.9  265  18  9   8.6   4.7
  9750  18.9  66.0  280   5  2  10.0   5.5 |  13.3  55.9  265  17  9   8.4   4.6
  9500  19.6  67.3  280   4  2  10.8   5.9 |  13.9  57.0  265  17  9   9.5   5.2
  9250  20.6  69.1  280   4  2  15.5   8.5 |  14.8  58.6  265  15  8  12.8   7.0
  9000  22.0  71.6  275   4  2  24.8  13.6 |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8750     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8500     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8000     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
________________________________________________________________________________

This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 MST/0730 MDT 
(1330 UTC).  It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial 
issuance. 

The information contained herein is based on rawinsonde observation and/or
numerical weather prediction model data taken near Villa Grove, Colorado at:

                   North Latitude:  38 deg 16 min 03 sec
                   West Longitude: 105 deg 53 min 37 sec
                   Elevation: 7986 feet (2434 meters)

and may not be representative of other areas along the Front Range of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Note that some elevations in numerical weather
prediction models differ from actual station elevations, which can lead to
data which appear to be below ground.  Erroneous data such as these should
not be used.

The content and format of this report as well as the issuance times are subject
to change without prior notice.  Comments and suggestions are welcome and should
be directed to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this
page.  To expedite a response to comments, be sure to mention your interest in 
the soaring forecast.

DEFINITIONS:

CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) - An integrated measure of the
     energy available for convective development, also known as the positive 
     area on a thermodynamic diagram.  Units are Joules per kilogram.  Larger
     values are indicative of greater instability and the possibility of 
     stronger convective activity, including thunderstorms.  Values around or
     greater than 1000 suggest the possibility of severe weather should
     convective activity develop.

CIN (Convective Inhibition) - An integrated measure of the amount of energy
     needed to initiate convective activity, also known as the negative area on
     a thermodynamic diagram.  Units are Joules per kilogram.  The more negative
     this number, the more energy is required to initiate convection.  This
     inhibitive energy can be overcome through surface heating, cooling aloft,
     lifting mechanisms (orographic, frontal, gravity waves, etc.)

Convective Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the
     average saturation mixing ratio in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass,
     if heated sufficiently from below, will rise dry adiabatically until it 
     just becomes saturated.  It estimates the base of cumulus clouds that are
     produced by surface heating only.

Convection Temperature (ConvectionT) - The surface temperature required to make
     the airmass dry adiabatic up to the given level.  It can be considered a
     "trigger temperature" for that level.

Freezing Level - The height where the temperature is zero degrees Celsius.

Height of Stable Layer - The height (between 12,000 and 18,000 feet above 
     mean sea level) where the smallest lapse rate exists.  The location and
     existence of this feature is important in the generation of mountain 
     waves.

K Index - A measure of stability which combines the temperature difference
     between approximately 5,000 and 18,000 feet above the surface, the amount
     of moisture at approximately 5,000 feet above the surface, and a measure
     of the dryness at approximately 10,000 feet above the surface.  Larger 
     positive numbers indicate more instability and a greater likelihood of 
     thunderstorm development.  One interpretation of K index values regarding
     soaring in the western United States is given in WMO Technical Note 158 
     and is reproduced in the following table:

          below -10    no or weak thermals
           -10 to 5    dry thermals or 1/8 cumulus with moderate thermals
            5 to 15    good soaring conditions
           15 to 20    good soaring conditions with occasional showers
           20 to 30    excellent soaring conditions, but increasing
                       probability of showers and thunderstorms
           above 30    more than 60 percent probability of thunderstorms

Lapse Rate - The change with height of the temperature. Negative values indicate
     inversions. 

Lifted Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the 
     average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass and the forecast
     maximum temperature must be lifted dry adiabatically to attain saturation.

Lifted Index (LI) - The difference between the environmental temperature at a
     level approximately 18,000 feet above the surface and the temperature of
     an air parcel lifted dry adiabatically from the surface to its lifted
     condensation level and then pseudoadiabatically thereafter to this same
     level.  The parcel's initial temperature is the forecast maximum 
     temperature and its dew point is the average dew point in the lowest 4000
     feet of the airmass.  Negative values are indicative of instability with
     positive values showing stable conditions.

Lift Rate - An experimental estimate of the strength of thermals.  It is
     computed the same way as the maximum rate of lift but uses the actual
     level rather than the maximum height of thermals in the calculation.
     Also, none of the empirical adjustments based on cloudiness and K-index
     are applied to these calculations.

Maximum Height of Thermals - The height where the dry adiabat through the
     forecast maximum temperature intersects the environmental temperature.

Maximum Rate of Lift - An estimate of the maximum strength of thermals.  It 
     is computed from an empirical formula which combines the expected maximum
     height of thermals with the difference in the environmental temperatures 
     between the maximum height of thermals and the temperature 4,000 feet 
     above the ground.  After this computation, further empirical adjustments
     are made based on the value of the K-index and the amount and opacity of
     middle and high level cloudiness expected between the time of trigger
     temperature and the time of overdevelopment.  

Middle/High Clouds - The amount and opacity of middle (altostratus, altocumulus)
     or high (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus) clouds.  Broken means that
     between 60% and 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud, with overcast
     conditions occurring when more than 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud.
     Thin implies that the clouds are predominantly transparent, meaning that
     some sunlight is reaching the ground, in contrast to opaque which suggests
     that little sunlight is reaching the ground.
  
Potential Height of Wave - The minimum of the following two heights: 
     1. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
        where the wind direction changes by 30 degrees or more
     2. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
        where the wind speed no longer increases with height

PVA/NVA - Positive vorticity advection (PVA)/negative vorticity advection (NVA)
     on the 500 millibar isobaric surface (approximately 18,000 feet above mean
     sea level).  Weak PVA has been shown to assist in mountain wave soaring.

Soaring Window - The time between the time the trigger temperature is reached
                 and the time of overdevelopment.

Thermal Index - The difference between the environmental temperature and the
     temperature at a particular level determined by following the dry adiabat
     through the forecast maximum temperature up to that level.  Negative values
     are indicative of thermal lift.

Thermal Soaring Index - An adjective rating (for sailplanes) based on the 
     computed maximum rate of lift, and the wind speed and middle and high
     cloud cover expected during the soaring window (the time of the trigger
     temperature and the time of overdevelopment) according to the following:

                 Maximum rate of lift        Adjective Rating
                      >= 800 fpm                 Excellent
                 >= 400 and < 800 fpm              Good
                 >= 200 and < 400 fpm              Fair
                       < 200 fpm                   Poor  

Time of Overdevelopment - The time one or more of the following phenomena,
     which essentially shut off thermal lift, is expected to occur:
     1. formation of broken to overcast convective cloud cover
     2. formation of scattered to numerous downbursts
     3. initiation of widespread precipitation

Time of Trigger Temperature - The time the surface temperature is expected to
     reach the trigger temperature.

Trigger Temperature - The surface temperature required to make the first 4000
     feet of the atmosphere dry adiabatic.

Wave Soaring Index - An empirical, adjective rating (for sailplanes) which 
     attempts to combine a variety of phenomena important in mountain wave
     soaring into a single index number.  Objective points are assigned to
     these phenomena: wind speed and direction at 14,000 ft MSL, the static
     stability in the 12,000-18,000 ft MSL layer, the wind speed gradient above
     the stable layer, jet stream location and frontal and upper trough 
     movements.

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